Johany Jutras/CFL.ca
Berg vs. Ferg returns for another season on CFL.ca as columnists Pat Steinberg and Marshall Ferguson debate over some of the league’s most contentious storylines. This week they argue over which team will step up in the East Division.
The battle between East and West has been one-sided in 2017 but don’t let that take anything away from what’s to come all places east of Winnipeg.
With only six points separating first from last (and the last place team having a game in hand on first) and plenty of head to head action ahead, the East Division remains entirely up in the air less than a month away from Labour Day.
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What’s more, at this point it wouldn’t be a stretch to argue that any team in the division could take the crown come November — including the 0-6 Ticats — bearing in mind the Lions started their 2011 campaign 0-5 and 1-6 before winning eight straight games and eventually becoming the 99th Grey Cup Champions.
If new coaching additions/promotions June Jones and Phillip Lolley can muster a spark in Hamilton… if the defending Grey Cup Champion REDBLACKS can start pulling out close games… if Darian Durant and the Als’ offence can continue building chemistry… if Ricky Ray could just stay healthy…
A lot of ifs, yes, but someone is going to step forward and lay claim to the East Division at the end of the year.
Who will it be? Steinberg and Ferguson debate.
| BERG VS. FERG: LAST WEEK’S RESULTS |
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CFL.ca |
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TOTAL |
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Ferguson – 317 (67%) Steinberg – 158 (33%) |
Ferguson – 202 (67%) Steinberg – 99 (33%) |
Ferguson – 519 (67%) Steinberg – 257 (33%) |
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FERG (3-5): NEVER UNDERESTIMATE TRESTMAN
Marshall Ferguson, CFL.ca
@TSN_Marsh
The Ricky Ray injury sucks.
It just does. Regardless of your team affiliation or personal beliefs, he has been a ton of fun to watch so far this season and having to watch a Double Blue backup quarterback isn’t ideal.
That being said, perhaps it is just a small bump in the long and winding road that is a CFL season. When ignoring the short term and thinking big picture, I believe that the Toronto Argonauts have the best chance of any team in the East Division to put a run together in the second half of the season.
‘But Marshall, their quarterback is hurt, their defence just got obliterated by the Stampeders and the Alouettes are hot on their heels for first in the division’.
You are correct my educated CFL fan friend, but what if Ricky Ray gets healthy? Who else would you want at the helm of a CFL franchise when it needs to play best best football after labour day than Marc Trestman? What if the consistent pressure on Ray in the weeks leading up to his injured right shoulder serve as a learning lesson for both the offensive line and offensive coaching staff which will prevent a similar situation down the road?
This might sound like a bunch of hypothetical hearsay and well-wishing but they are genuine theories that could rise to prominence in the next four months.
Being great all the time sucks. It doesn’t teach you anything. The grind and lessons learned are part of the joy of a CFL season and the Argos are right on track to learn a whole lot in their maiden voyage under Marc Trestman.
I believe they will be better off for it and have a better chance than Hamilton (brutal start), Montreal (I’m still not a believer) and Ottawa (see Hamilton) to put a run together in the East division.
BERG (5-3): THE ALS ARE JUST GETTING ON TRACK
Pat Steinberg, CFL.ca
@Fan960Steinberg
On the surface, the Montreal Alouettes don’t look like a team to be wary of. At 2-4, the Als have been part of a disappointing start for the East Division. Don’t sleep on Montreal, though, because from what I’ve seen through the first seven weeks of the season, they’re the team with the best chance to come out of the East.
There’s no question the Als have had their woes offensively. They’re averaging fewer than 24 points per game and have had some real issues getting in sync. In a lot of ways, though, that’s not totally unexpected. Montreal went through wholesale changes on the offensive side of the ball during the off-season and I wondered if it might take some time to click. It hasn’t hit on all cylinders yet, but I still think it’ll get there.
More than anything else, Darian Durant is capable of playing better. While his 71.0 per cent completion percentage is the highest of his career, he’s thrown seven interceptions in six games. That number is unusually high and I have to believe it’ll normalize, especially if he remains as accurate as he’s been. Otherwise though, there have been some positive signs on offence.
Tailback Tyrell Sutton is averaging 5.8 yards per carry, which puts him second in the CFL. Receiver B.J. Cunningham has had a really nice start to the season, while newcomer Ernest Jackson is bound to bust out eventually. And, anchored by off-season acquisition Jovan Olafoiye, the offensive line has been really, really good. The Als have allowed just eight sacks, the best total in the league, and have done a nice job keeping Durant protected.
So yes, there are positive signs Montreal is starting to get on track offensively. If that happens, the Als should be in really good shape, because this defence has been on point all season long. The Alouettes have allowed just 150 points against thus far, which puts them third overall. More impressively, Montreal has surrendered just 14 touchdowns to this point, which has them tied for first in the league.
Plain and simple, running against the Als doesn’t make sense. Montreal is allowing just 65.7 yards on the ground per game, which is by far the best total in the CFL. With linebackers Kyries Hebert and Dominique Tovell averaging more than 12 tackles combined each night, it’s tough to get any traction running the ball.
2-4 is not a great start to the season, but Montreal’s record is a little deceiving. All four of their losses have come by less than one possession, so they’ve been close in every game they’ve played thus far. If their offence continues to progress and they stay as stingy without the ball, I think the Als can start to pump out some positive results. That’s why I think they’re the team to beat in the East.
DON’T SIT ON THE FENCE!
While both sides are pretty convincing, someone’s got to take it. Whose argument convinced you the most?
You can vote for this week’s winner both on CFL.ca and Twitter. Meanwhile, continue the conversation by tweeting @Fan960Steinberg and @TSN_Marsh.
The winner will be revealed in the following week’s Berg vs. Ferg.
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